Compare towns
Durham vs Middlefield vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Middlefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Durham | Middlefield | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208 |
4,243Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Durham and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
| Durham and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 13 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.